Govt invites Kashmiri militants for talks

Declaring that K C Pant will hold dialogue on the Kashmir issue, the government Thursday invited Kashmiri militant organisations and the Hurriyat Conference for talks without pre-conditions.

The government also told Pakistan that it was keen on bilateral dialogue, but hoped that Islamabad would help in its resumption by curbing cross-border terrorism and putting an end to the vicious anti-India propaganda emanating from there.

In a major policy statement on the Kashmir peace
initiative subsequent to the cease-fire, the government said, "The agenda for the dialogue briefly stated is 'Peace and how it may be attained in the troubled state'. All aspects bearing on this theme will be relevant to the dialogue".

Taking note of the Hurriyat's stand that talks should be unconditional, the statement said now that the government has agreed to hold talks in the interest of early restoration of peace, it was for the Hurriyat Conference to consider whether "it would not be inconsistent for them to set pre-conditions for dialogue.

"The doors are open for them to join in the talks. The doors are also not closed for Kashmiri organisations, which are engaged in militancy in the state but are desirous of peace," it said.

"In order to promote a vigorous movement towards establishment of peace and tranquility, the government has decided to embark on a political dialogue with all sections of peace-loving people of the state, including those who are currently outside it," the statement said.

The dialogue for the government would be held by Pant, who is Planning Commission's deputy chairman, it said, hoping that representatives of all walks of life from among the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be partners in the dialogue.

On Islamabad's frequently-repeated request for dialogue
with India on J&K, the statement said the government "reaffirms its faith in such a bilateral dialogue and hopes that Pakistan will help in its resumption by curbing cross-border terrorism and putting an end to the vicious anti-India propaganda emanating from Pakistan."

"This will be in accordance with the Shimla Agreement and the spirit of the Lahore Declaration," it said.

Despite the continuing violence by "some pre-dominantly non-Kashmiri terrorist groups", it said the government was "gratified" to note that there was an "unmistakable ground swell for peace" among the people of J&K.

It said that it expected all political parties, non-government organisations, trade unions and social and religious bodies from all the
regions of J&K, besides the state government, would participate in the talks.

"The government invites people of goodwill who desire
restoration of peace and normalcy to come forward and
participate in the dialogue," the statement said.

The statement said the road for peace was not without "serious obstacles", one such being continuing violence against
innocent people of J&K.

To reduce violence, the security forces have been directed to
vigorously conduct operation against those who disturb peace
and victimise innocent people while, at the same time,
ensuring that the population was spared undue harassment, it
said.

"The government expects that all right thinking people in
the state will join hands with the government and march
purposefully in the quest of peace which has eluded them for
the last 12 years," it said, adding, "it is only in an
atmosphere of peace that an agreed solution for the J&K issue can be evolved".